AUTHOR=Ghoman Simran K. , Cutumisu Maria , Schmölzer Georg M. 

TITLE=Using the RETAIN Tabletop Simulator as a Summative Assessment Tool for Neonatal Resuscitation Healthcare Professionals: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.569776

DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.569776

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Frequent and objective summative assessment of neonatal healthcare providers is important to ensure high-quality care to patients during neonatal resuscitation. Currently, neonatal resuscitation providers are only individually assessed using an at-home online multiple-choice questionnaire. While simulation-based assessment is preferred, resource constraints limit its widespread uptake. An alternative approach to simulation-based summative assessment is needed. Simulation-based serious games may provide a solution.</p><p><bold>Objective:</bold> The aim of this study was to examine if individual performance on the RETAIN (REsuscitation TrAINing for healthcare professionals) tabletop simulator can be used as a summative assessment of neonatal resuscitation providers, regardless of their prior board game experience.</p><p><bold>Method:</bold> Neonatal healthcare providers were recruited from a tertiary perinatal center to complete a (1) demographic pre-survey, (2) neonatal resuscitation scenario using an open-answer written pre-test, (3) neonatal resuscitation scenario using the RETAIN tabletop simulator, and (4) post-survey measuring usage and attitudes toward board games. Multiple linear regression analyses using the Johnson–Neyman technique were conducted in R to probe the moderation effect of <italic>years of board game</italic> on the relationship between <italic>pre-test</italic> and <italic>game performance</italic>.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Twenty Neonatal Resuscitation Program-trained healthcare providers (nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and fellows) were recruited for this study (<italic>n</italic> = 19 females). Participants' mean (standard deviation) pre-test score was 8.35 (1.81) out of a total 16 possible points (52%) and a score of 18 (4.41) out of a total of 40 possible points (45%) using RETAIN. Overall board game experience was 22.5 (12.6) years. Finally, years of board game moderated significantly the relation between the pre-test and game performance (<italic>B</italic> = −0.13, SE = 0.05, beta = −0.48, <italic>t</italic> = −2.77, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05; 95% CI [−0.24, −0.03]). Thus, participants' performance on the two tests (written and simulator) was significantly positively associated, but only for those who reported fewer than 21.5 years of board game experience.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study reports the preliminary results of a pilot study, indicating that the RETAIN tabletop simulator could be used as a simulation-based summative assessment, an enjoyable, low-cost alternative to traditional assessment approaches. RETAIN offers a solution to the need for more frequent and continued assessment of neonatal resuscitation providers.</p>